Buildout

Overview

About this trip

The annual movement of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti Plains is one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world. The feeling of a tented camp immersed in open air and sounds of the wild creates a genuine safari atmosphere never to be forgotten. This extraordinary safari encompasses great wildlife destinations and world-famous national parks and reserves such as Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and the famous Serengeti National Park, plus several days on the beautiful island of Zanzibar.

Highlights

Embark on game drive in the Serengeti, host of the largest migration of wildebeest and other mammals in the world.

Low stress travel planning

AND MORE!

Arusha

Day 1

Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport, make your way through immigration and customs. As you enter the arrivals area, look for the signboard with your name on it, then climb aboard for the 45-minute transfer to your Arusha accommodation. Check in to your rooms as allocated, and enjoy a three-course meal while your guide presents a general overview of your time in Tanzania.

Dinner included

Overnight at Lake Duluti Luxury Lodge or similar

Arusha

Day 2

This morning you will be met in the reception of your hotel by your guide and visit Arusha National Park, where you'll have great views of Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro, plus the opportunity to see flamingos, colobus monkeys, giraffes, and zebras.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Lake Duluti Luxury Lodge or similar

Tarangire

Day 3

Today, set out for Tarangire National Park, an often "forgotten" park located less than two hours from Arusha to the southwest. During the dry season from July to November, Tarangire comes alive even more with herds of up to 300 elephants that scratch the dry riverbed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and various types of antelope crowd the shrinking lagoons. Here you'll find the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem, providing a smorgasbord for predators. Tarangire is also home to the iconic ancient baobab trees. Spend the day exploring the park, from Silalei Swamp to Little Serengeti and the Tarangire River bed to view the resident and migratory wildlife.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge or similar

Ngorongoro

Day 4

After breakfast, catch a glimpse of the "true Tanzania" during a visit to Losirwa Primary School, where you'll spend the day helping out based on the current needs of the school; projects may include working in the classrooms, helping to prepare the nursery school lunch, or painting the facilities. Losirwa Primary School is approximately 60 miles west of Arusha in the Maasai village of Losirwa. The school began as three mud classrooms in 2008, when it was built by the Maasai villagers for their children. Since then, another three classrooms have been added. The government provided teachers and continues to fund the school, though irregularly. Share and present any donations that you may have gathered from the school's wish list, and maybe challenge the children to a game of football (soccer). The school's head teacher, Mr. Charles, will be present throughout your visit to assist with language translation and explain cultural norms as needed. In the afternoon, visit Mto wa mbu village for local cuisine prepared by your village host. Late this afternoon, continue to your lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Acacia Farm Lodge or similar

Ngorongoro

Day 5

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a collapsed volcano-an incredible natural amphitheater, 15 miles across and teeming with all of the African big game. Early this morning, descend into the crater for spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. Within its perimeters are thousands of wildebeest, many black rhino, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and other predators. Flamingos inhabit the soda lake in the center of the crater, and other bird life is abundant, especially around the swamp. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake, and then return to your lodge in the mid-afternoon.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Acacia Farm Lodge or similar

Serengeti

Day 6

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park, stopping en route at Olduvai Gorge. Nicknamed the "Cradle of Mankind," this famous site is where Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey excavated key hominid fossils that provided significant understanding of the course of human evolution. Visit the on-site museum and view archaeological sites where early human tools and fossils have been found. Continue on to Serengeti National Park, which covers an area of 9,173 square miles and lies between the shores of Lake Victoria to the west, Lake Eyasi to the south, the Great Rift Valley to the east, and the Maasai Mara to the north. Criss-crossed with forested riverine valleys, the Serengeti plays home to millions of Africa's large mammals, and notably the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, making this one of the world's most famous wildlife destinations. This afternoon take your first game drive in the rolling grasslands.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Mbugani Central Camp or similar

Serengeti

Day 7

Spend the day at Serengeti National Park for game driving and unforgettable wildlife viewing.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Mbugani Central Camp or similar

Serengeti

Day 8

Continue with another full day of game drives in Serengeti. The best time for the wildebeest migration is between December and June, but there is spectacular wildlife at any time of year. Tonight have dinner and enjoy a campfire under the stars, listening for the sounds of the African night.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Mbugani Central Camp or similar

Zanzibar

Day 9

After breakfast, take a game drive to the central Serengeti airstrip at Seronera for a two-hour flight (via Arusha) to Zanzibar, part of the "Spice Islands." Upon arrival, you'll be met at the airport and enjoy a visit to a spice plantation. Learn where black pepper comes from, and see the henna, nutmeg, ginger, and other spices on display.

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Essque Zalu Resort Zanzibar or similar

Zanzibar

Day 10

The eastern Bwejuu beach in Zanzibar offers glistening sands and azure waters for you to enjoy. Zalu's friendly staff can assist you in anything from scuba diving to lazing in the sun and relishing cocktails. Continue your ultimate exotic experience by relaxing at the club at your own pace, or get busy with the many additional activities on offer (prices upon request at reception).

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Essque Zalu Resort Zanzibar or similar

Zanzibar

Day 11

The eastern Bwejuu beach in Zanzibar offers glistening sands and azure waters for you to enjoy. Zalu's friendly staff can assist you in anything from scuba diving to lazing in the sun and relishing cocktails. Continue your ultimate exotic experience by relaxing at the club at your own pace, or get busy with the many additional activities on offer (prices upon request at reception).

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included

Overnight at Essque Zalu Resort Zanzibar or similar

Departure

Day 12

After breakfast, transfer to Stone Town for a historical walking tour of this World Heritage Site. The three-hour guided tour starts at the House of Wonder (the first tall building in East Africa to also have electricity). It then proceeds to the Sultan's Palace, which is now a museum, then to the Old Indian Dispensary and the Livingstone House. Next, take in the hustle and bustle of the market, which dates to 1904 and where local exotic fruits and vegetables are sold. Also visit the Anglican Church, built in 1873 on the site of the old slave market, and continue past other landmarks including the State House, Zanzibar Museum, the High Court of Zanzibar, Tipu Tip House, the first British High Commission, Jamhuri Garden, and finally the Old Fort building. Take your time and visit a variety of souvenir shops to bring home some memories of Zanzibar. Transfer to the airport for a 20-minute flight to Dar es Salaam, where you will meet your international departure.

Breakfast- included

Pricing

2 Travelers

$4,890

Land Cost

Pricing details:

Rates are based on double occupancy for participants.

Complimentary leader accommodations are based on share occupancy; leaders of same gender are expected to share rooms.

Entry & Exit Requirements

U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a valid passport to enter Tanzania. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the date of entry.

A visa is re­quired. Visas can be obtained prior to your trip at the Tanzanian Embassy or upon arrival at the airport. Expect delays if you choose to obtain a visa at the airport. The fee is $100 for a 12-month multiple-entry visa (subject to change).

If you are not traveling with a U.S. passport, please check with the Tanzanian Embassy for the requirements based on your nationality.

Health Information

IMMUNIZATIONS

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all travelers be up to date on routine vaccinations such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine, varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, and your yearly flu shot before every trip.

There are no vaccinations required for entry into Tanzania.

Some physicians recommend that travelers get hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines before visiting Tanzania.

MALARIA

The CDC warns that travelers to East Africa may be at risk for exposure to malaria. Malaria is caused by a parasite found in Anopheles mosquitos, which are active from dusk until dawn. Prevention is twofold: the use of anti-malarial drugs and the prevention of insect bites. If you choose to use an anti-malarial drug, as recommended by the CDC, see your physician for a prescription.

DENGUE FEVER

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which, as opposed to the Anopheles mosquito, is active during the day. Travelers are unlikely to contract dengue unless they are traveling through an area where there is an outbreak. The only method of prevention is avoiding mosquito bites. The illness causes high fever and a variety of other symptoms, but it is normally not deadly. Unlike malaria, dengue does not reoccur.

SUN EXPOSURE

The effects of the sun can be damaging to the eyes and skin. Spending time outdoors exposes you to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, even on cloudy days. To protect yourself from the sun, use a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15, protect skin with clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and drink plenty of fluids.

Resources

Suggested Packing List

To help you get ready for your expedition, below is a suggested packing list. You may find many of these items in our Gear Store, plus many clothing and accessory items.

CLOTHING

Lightweight, casual clothes (see notes on clothing colors)

Sweater and scarf (evenings can be cold, especially in desert areas and during May-August)

A lightweight wind-breaker

Hat with ties

Bathing suit

Walking shoes with thorn-proof soles

Sandals

MISCELLANEOUS

Binoculars: expensive ones are not necessary. Bring lens cleaner.

Camera, extra memory cards, and batteries.

Flashlight

A small backpack for day walks

Photocopies of passport and other travel documentation

Prescription drugs and a copy of the prescription

Sunscreen

Insect repellent

Sunglasses

Spare batteries

Spare glasses (it can be dusty so avoid contact lenses)

FIRST AID KIT

In addition to your toiletries it is useful to pack a small medical kit which you can easily prepare. Helpful items include a pocketknife, cigarette lighter, Band-Aids, antihistamine (such as Benadryl), a pain-reliever, individually-wrapped moist towelettes, anti-diarrhea medicine, anti-fungal cream, and a small sewing kit.

CLOTHING COLORS

Bring clothes in neutral or muted colors such as green, khaki, brown, or grey. We recommend that you avoid wearing bright colors or white as they can easily be spotted by animals. In addition, blue is particularly attractive to certain insects and should be avoided. Army-style camouflage clothes are illegal in Tanzania. For ladies, shorts are not generally accepted on streets in Africa.

LUGGAGE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS

Pack lightly. Charter flights between parks have a baggage weight limit of a maximum of 33 lbs. If your bags are heavier, it is likely you will be required to pay an excess luggage fee. For this reason, soft bags are preferable to hard suitcases and are mandatory on light aircrafts.